REVIEWS - Niton 999 Equipment

Stab, Slash or Spike...PPE GLOVES - WHAT’S BEST FOR YOU?Slash resistant gloves often come with lots of information aboutwhat levels of protection they provide, but no information on whatthese levels or standards mean. Here we hope to clarify some of thejargon so you can choose the right gloves for you or your company.If you requiregloves that arecut, punctureor abrasionresistant, thereare a number ofconsiderations tobe made. If youare buying glovesfor an employeeyou need toensure that theyhave been subjected to European Safety standards andhave been CE marked.If you are buying for yourself, then the gloves do not have to be CEmarked, but you should check that they have been certified eitherto EU or American standards. Gloves that have undergone testsin accordance with EU standards will have an EN code (for slashresistant gloves this is EN388). Gloves tested in America will havean ASTM code (American Society for Testing and Materials).How are gloves tested?To meet EN388 standards, gloves advertised as cutor slash resistant undergo four tests and given aperformance rating of 0 to 5, with 5 being the mosteffective.These tests are:A) Abrasion ResistanceB) Blade Cut Resistance (the only test that can achievea level 5)C) Tear ResistanceD) Puncture ResistanceGloves that have been approved to EN388 standards will displaythe performance levels of the gloves either on the label or on thepackaging. The numbers will always appear in the same order toindicate which test they apply to - A, B, C, D - and will usually showunder the EN388 logo or listed as ‘rating’.It is important to remember that all gloves of thiskind are advertised as resistant and not proof.TESTING SHOULD ALWAYS BEDONE BY PROFESSIONALS!PAGE 8These ratings can provide a guidewhen buying protective gloves, butit must be remembered that thisis only an indicator of how wellthe glove will perform. Each testis performed with an item, suchas a blade that is standardisedso that each test can be easilyrepeated under the same clinicalcircumstances. The tests are notcarried out with a variety ofblades, nor is the puncture testcarried out with a selection ofdifferent gauge needles, metalor wood splinters etc.NITON999 PRODUCT NEWSStab, Spike, Slash has it been tested...What Does it all Mean?The Abrasion TestThe glove material is fixed into place and a standard abrasivematerial is moved in a circular motion over the glove. The samespeed and pressure is always applied. The performance level is thenbased on the number of cycles required to abrade the material.LEVEL 0 1 2 3 4 5ABRASION RESISTANCE